April 20, 2023: U.K. inflation unexpectedly stayed in double-digits in March as households grappled with skyrocketing food and energy bills.

The Office for National Statistics stated the consumer cost index rose by an annual 10.1%, above a consensus viewpoint of 9.8% in a Reuters poll of economists.

This is a decrease from the unexpected increase of 10.4% in February, which broke three consecutive months of refusal since October’s 41-year high of 11.1%.

Every month, CPI inflation was 0.8%, above a Reuters consensus of 0.5% and down from 1.1% in February.

The Consumer Prices Index, which includes owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH), increased by 8.9% in the 12 months to March 2023, down lesser from 9.2% in February but well above anticipation.

Core CPIH, excluding volatile food, energy, alcohol and tobacco prices, rose by 5.7% more than the 12 months, unchanged from February’s annual increase, which will concern the Bank of England.

“The significant upward contributions to the annual CPIH inflation price in March 2023 is coming from housing and household assistance (principally from electricity, gas and different fuels), and food and non-alcoholic beverages,” the ONS stated in the Wednesday report.

As British households continue contending with high food and energy bills, workers across various sectors have launched mass strikes amid disputes over pay and conditions in recent months.

The ONS stated that food and non-alcoholic beverages prices increased by 19.2% in the year to March 2023, a huge annual surge for more than 45 years.

On Wednesday, U.K. Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt said the figures reaffirm why the government must continue to drive down inflation.